Obama: The Choice is Between “Hope” and “Fear”

Obama: The Choice is Between “Hope” and “Fear”

The presumptive Democratic nominee discusses what his thinks the GOP’s general election strategy will be. He says at a Jacksonville, Florida fundraiser:

“We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?”

Read pool report here. Permalink

http://thepage.time.com/

TIME: 5:20pm ET

EVENT: Barack Obama Fundraiser in Jacksonville

6.20.08

Pool Report 1

Jacksonville, Fla.

Senator Barack Obama spoke to about 600 paying guests at a reception at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville. He began at 5:17p and spoke for about 20 minutes. The crowd was well-dressed and mixed-race. There was an occasional shout of “Viva!”

The attendees paid between $500 and $2,300. The campaign did not release an aggregate figure, nor say how much of the money was for the primary or general elections.

He was introduced by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, a big Clinton supporter during the primaries. His remarks will be familiar to you, although his tone was a little sharper, more cynical, probably because this was a highly partisan and appreciative audience.

He said Republicans and McCain criticized him when he expressed approval of the Supreme Court decision granting habeas corpus to the detainees at Guantanamo.

“They said, ‘You’d give habeas corpus to Osama bin Laden?’ and I said, ‘First we gotta catch him.’ ”

He had effusive praise for Hillary Clinton.

“Hillary Clinton and I agree on 99% on the issues. We had to work to find something to disagree on. The differences we have pale in comparison with the differences we have with George W. Bush and John McCain and that’s what’s at stake in November, making sure we don’t have a third George Bush term under the guise of John McCain.”

Probably his best riff was:

“The choice is clear. Most of all we can choose between hope and fear. It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?

He’s got a feisty wife.”

(big cheer).

“We know the strategy because they’ve already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn’t moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us.”

He stayed for a while shaking hands.

http://thepage.time.com/pool-report-for-obama-jacksonville-fundraiser/